Send us a text Creativity isn’t a side dish; it’s the main course for building sharper thinking and genuine confidence. We sit down with Madeline, a homeschooled teen who treats art as both a learning engine and a way to find her voice. Together we unpack why open-ended making exercises different mental muscles than subjects with single right answers, and how that challenge translates into autonomy, resilience, and better problem-solving. Madeline shares how an unschooling mindset lets her m...
Send us a text Ever wonder how a single creative pivot can bloom into a multi-venue art business? We sit down with exhibiting artist Rachel Blakney and trace her path from early painting classes to a pandemic-era leap into polymer clay that reshaped her practice and presence in the community. Rachel’s world is rooted in nature—florals, animals, and organic textures—and she brings that love to both canvas and jewelry with moody palettes, crisp outlines, and tiny sculpted details that people ca...
Send us a text Want a clear path from creative spark to shipped product? We’re opening the studio doors and sharing the exact systems that turn sketches into physical goods, classes, and sustainable income. After a burst of community events and a busy month, I’m launching a streamlined Patreon built for artists, dreamers, and entrepreneurs who want practical support without the fluff. We walk through why a single, creator-first tier keeps things simple and focused: weekly Q&A threads, on...
Send us a text A camera on a backyard bird feeder sparked an entire art series—then the community took notice. We sit down with exhibiting artist Glenda Hake to trace the winding path of a maker who blends painting, collage, masks, photography, and graphic design into a practice rooted in nature and fueled by curiosity. From foraging moss and grapevine to transforming empty bottles into lit fairy houses, Glenda shows how repurposed materials can carry stories as well as beauty. We dive into ...
Send us a text The month kicked off like a creative sprint—teens asking to guest on the show, paint-streaked fingers from Iris Scott–inspired experiments, and a calendar full of community art events that turned blank spaces into living galleries. We open up about what it takes to build a studio that puts joy and access first, from rolling the art dice with students to running lessons that nudge confidence higher one brushstroke at a time. Between laughs and paint splatters, we also get candid...
Send us a text Ever wondered what happens when you blend classical orchestral music with tacos, ballet, and rock legends? Join us as we sit down with Rachel Hagemeier, the dynamic President and CEO of the Canton Symphony Orchestra, who is revolutionizing how orchestral music connects with communities. Rachel's journey from Oklahoma bassoonist to symphony leadership reveals how passion and vision can transform traditional institutions. Under her guidance, the Canton Symphony has evolved into ...
Send us a text Creativity blooms across generations in this heartwarming episode recorded while traveling in Seattle with my granddaughters Jojo (5) and Franny (7). Surrounded by the Pacific Northwest's lush plant life and buzzing insects, we embark on a ladybug-themed art project that captures the magic of making art with children. Armed with watercolor paints and paper, we create vibrantly unconventional ladybugs – Jojo opts for a royal purple while Franny chooses sunny yellow. Throughout ...
Send us a text Have you ever wondered what would happen if you trusted your wildest creative ideas and actually built a business around them? On this special anniversary episode, I'm celebrating one year since the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Brewtifully and reflecting on the incredible journey of transforming an unconventional vision into a thriving creative space. When people ask how I developed this business model, they're often surprised to learn I literally made it up from scratch –...
Send us a text Creativity becomes a powerful healing journey in this intimate conversation with Bryan, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant whose miniature dioramas transform military experiences into art. After 22 years of service, nine deployments, and multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bryan discovered that crafting detailed miniature scenes offered both creative fulfillment and therapeutic relief from PTSD. What began as a way to honor Medal of Honor recipients he personally met evol...
Send us a text A single tick bite in July 2023 changed everything. What began as a hopeful retirement transition into full-time artistry and business ownership has evolved into an unexpected battle with chronic pain and debilitating joint inflammation. When I woke up one morning unable to move my neck, then months later found myself completely immobilized with swollen hands and wrists, my world turned upside down. The diagnosis finally came: stage four long-term Lyme disease. For someone who...
Send us a text Ever wondered how artists can honor each other's work while still sharing techniques with new audiences? Dive deep into the transformative power of ethical collaboration as we explore what happens when creators support each other with integrity and purpose. Through my recent partnerships with artists like Natasha Smart and Ali Kay, I've witnessed firsthand how respectful collaboration creates ripple effects throughout the creative community. When Natasha graciously allowed me ...
Send us a text Stepping outside your comfort zone might be the best business decision you'll ever make. Have you ever felt the pressure to find your perfect niche and stick with it? That nagging voice telling you to specialize, specialize, specialize? In this refreshingly honest episode, we challenge that conventional wisdom and make a compelling case for embracing an eclectic approach to your creative business. From the celebration room that hosts birthday parties to after-school programs ...
Send us a text What happens when you trade a corporate career for a paintbrush and an empty storefront? In this heartfelt episode, I'm recording from inside my art studio, surrounded by the floor-to-ceiling mural I painted when opening Brewtifully nearly a year ago. The transition to full-time artist and studio owner has been a beautiful whirlwind. Morning kids' camps filled with young artists exploring without boundaries. Podcast appearances sharing my journey and techniques, from tradition...
Send us a text Taking a leap of faith and diving into full-time creative entrepreneurship marks the beginning of this raw, honest conversation about pursuing your passions. After leaving a steady paycheck behind, I've jumped headfirst into running my art studio full-time and launching my very first children's art camps. The joy of watching toddlers discover art materials for the first time has been nothing short of magical. These little ones arrive each morning bursting with excitement, read...
Send us a text When Christine Lindebak was just five years old, she begged her mother to let her use the sewing machine. That early passion blossomed into a lifelong creative journey that now helps others rediscover the joy of making their own clothes through her pattern design business, Sewing and the City. Christine's approach to pattern-making stands out for its exceptional attention to detail. Each design undergoes multiple rounds of fittings across different sizes over two to three mont...
Send us a text What happens when you finally decide to chase your decades-old dream with just 17 days left at your steady job? The exhilaration, fear, and unexpected joy of embracing imperfection. Perfection is the enemy of progress. If we wait for flawless conditions before pursuing our passions, we'll remain forever stuck in place. My transition to full-time art hasn't followed a perfect roadmap—I'm admittedly "winging it" with the resources available. This messy middle, where plans meet r...
Send us a text I'm counting down my final month before retiring from my full-time job to pursue art full-time, with exciting collaborations highlighting my lifelong passion for fashion. My childhood dream of becoming a fashion designer has come full circle through partnerships with sustainable fashion brands, designers, and local businesses. • Working with Christine from Sewing and the City on sustainable pattern designs • Selected as a fashion influencer for a local clothing resale company ...
Send us a text Authenticity is your superpower in a world of cookie-cutter content. This episode dives into how giving ourselves permission to simply be who we are transforms not only our creative work but every relationship and community we build. Drawing from my experience at the ColoriFlori Art Summit with Este MacLeod, I explore what happens when we adapt instructions rather than feeling constrained by them. It's not just about art supplies – it's about the liberation that comes when we ...
Send us a text Ever wonder what happens when creative women find genuine community? This special episode takes you inside the transformative Rebloom Live Courageously retreat through conversations with five remarkable artists who discovered much more than new techniques—they found their tribe. While visiting my mom (excuse the different audio quality!), I couldn't wait to share these meaningful connections with you. Each artist reveals not just where to find their work online, but what made t...
Send us a text Ready to dive into the creative world of community art? Summer is approaching fast, and with it comes the excitement of my new Kids Art Camps launching this July! These age-specific programs offer young artists from toddlers to teens the opportunity to explore different creative disciplines each day, from fiber arts to painting, all while completing meaningful projects by week's end. The studio is buzzing with energy as registrations come in, though I'm keeping groups in...